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A-LevelChemistryEquilibria9701/42 · Feb/Mar 2022 · Q521 Marks

2-Chloropropanoic acid, CH3CHCICOOH, is used in many chemical syntheses.

  1. (a)(i)An equilibrium is set up when CH3CHCICOOH is added to water. Write the equation for this equilibrium.[1]
  2. (a)(ii)0.150 mol of CH3CHCICOOH dissolves in 250 cm³ of distilled water to produce a solution of pH 1.51. Calculate the pKa of CH3CHCICOOH.[2]
  3. (a)(iii)An equal concentration of aqueous propanoic acid has pH 2.55. Explain the difference in the pH of solutions of equal concentration of CH3CHCICOOH and propanoic acid.[2]
  4. (b)(i)Alanine is an amino acid. Its isoelectric point is 6.1. State what is meant by isoelectric point.[1]
  5. (b)(ii)Give the structural formula of alanine at pH 2.[1]
  6. (b)(iii)Alanine exists as a pair of optical isomers. The structure of one optical isomer is shown in Fig. 5.2. [Figure 5.2] Draw the three-dimensional structure of the other optical isomer of alanine.[1]
  7. (b)(iv)Polymer C forms from the reaction between alanine and 4-aminobutanoic acid, H2N(CH2)3COOH. Draw a repeat unit of C. The functional group formed should be displayed.[2]
  8. (b)(v)State the type of polymerisation shown in (b)(iv).[1]
  9. (b)(vi)Scientists are investigating C as a replacement for poly(propene) in packaging. Suggest an advantage of using C instead of poly(propene).[1]
  10. (c)(i)The student finds that when CH3CHCICOOH and NH3 are added in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio, the conjugate acid and base of the reactants are quickly formed. reaction 1 CH3CHCICOOH + NH3 → CH3CHCICOO⁻ + NH4⁺ Identify the conjugate acid-base pairs in reaction 1.[1]
  11. (c)(ii)A student investigates the rate of reaction 2. The student mixes CH3CHCICOO⁻ with a large excess of NH3. The graph in Fig. 5.3 shows the results obtained. [Figure 5.3] Use the graph in Fig. 5.3 to show that reaction 2 is first order with respect to [CH3CHCICOO⁻].[2]
  12. (c)(iii)Explain why a large excess of NH3 needs to be used in order to obtain the results in Fig. 5.3.[1]
  13. (c)(iv)The student measures the effect of changing the concentration of NH3 on the rate of reaction 2. Table 5.1 shows the results obtained. Table 5.1 experiment [CH3CHCICOO⁻] /mol dm⁻³ [NH3] /mol dm⁻³ initial rate of reaction /mol dm⁻³s⁻¹ 1 0.00120 0.00300 1.47 x 10⁻⁵ 2 0.00120 0.00450 2.21 x 10⁻⁵ Use the information in Table 5.1 and in (c)(ii) to determine whether the nucleophilic substitution reaction proceeds via an SN1 or an SN2 mechanism. Explain your answer.[2]
  14. (c)(v)Describe the effect of an increase in temperature on the rate of reaction of CH3CHCICOO⁻ and NH3. Explain your answer.[2]
  15. (c)(vi)When an excess of CH3CHCICOO⁻ is used, further substitution reactions occur. One product has the formula C6H9NO4²⁻. Suggest the structure of C6H9NO4²⁻.[1]

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Feb/Mar 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1] CH3CHCICOOH + H2O ⇌ CH3CHCICOO- + H3O+ OR CH3CHCICOOH ⇌ CH3CHCICOO- + H+
  2. [2] M1: [H+] = 10-1.51 = 0.0309 (mol dm-3) ; M2: Ka = 0.03092/0.60 = 1.592 × 10-3 ecf ; pKa = -log 1.592 × 10–3 = 2.80 ecf
  3. [2] CH3CHCICOOH is a stronger acid (than propanoic acid, owing to higher [H+] [1] ; because electron-withdrawing effect of Cl (substituent) AND weakens O—H / carboxylate anion stabilised [1]
  4. [1] pH at which a molecule has no overall charge / is neutral OR pH at which it exists as a zwitterion / dipolar ion
  5. [1] CH3CH(N+H3)COOH
  6. [1] [3D structure of the other optical isomer, mirror image]
  7. [2] [repeat unit of C with amide group displayed] ; middle amide group shown displayed [1] ; rest of structure correct [1]
  8. [1] condensation
  9. [1] C is biodegradable / easily hydrolysed
  10. [1] pair I = CH3CHCICOOH (acid) and CH3CHCICOO- (c.base) ; pair II = NH3 (base) and NH4+ (c.acid)
  11. [2] evidence on graph / paper of one half-life (use of data) / t1/2 = 500 s [1] ; constant half-life (= first order) [1]
  12. [1] so that [NH3] is (effectively) constant AND doesn't affect the rate / zero order
  13. [2] M1: when [NH3] increases ×1.5, rate increase ×1.5 AND first order (w.r.t. [NH3]) / rate is proportional to [NH3] ; M2: SN2 DEP on M1 (because rate is first order w.r.t. to [2-chloropropanoate] and [NH3])
  14. [2] greater proportion of particles have E > EA [1] ; frequency of (effective) collisions increases AND rate increases OR rate of collisions increases AND rate increases [1]
  15. [1] [structure of C6H9NO42- shown]

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About this question

Topic
Equilibria, A-Level Chemistry (syllabus 9701). Structured question, 21 marks.
Source
A-Level Chemistry, Feb/Mar 2022 Paper 4 Variant 2, question 5.

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